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Episodes
For people who play bluegrass music... or want to!
Episodes
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 193
They Said It Couldn't Be Done
Bill Monroe only made one minor mistake in the creation of Blue Grass music. That is the trying, and later elimination, of the accordion in his ensemble. Well, if you listen all the way to end of this podcast, you will hear some of the greatest music ever put on wax. Had Bill met Dominic Frontiere there is a good chance we would all have accordions in our bluegrass groups today! I challenge the whippersnapper upstart Chris Thile to play THAT!
Aside from that monstrous revelation, I also talk about whether one should joke with government employees, growing mushroooms, divine intervention, "breakthrough" miracles, patience, the sub-conscious mind, and all those other good things which turn average "pickers" into self-surprising musicians.
If you want proof of my three bullseyes go to the show notes for this episode right here. With Jackson as my witness, miracles do happen!
No! Not the chair!
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 192
Harmony
Harmony is the interaction between two or more different tones or pitches. Bluegrass music is nothing without harmony. (So is humanity by the way.) In this episode I walk you through a short course in bluegrass harmony singing. How do you figure out what note to sing? I'll try to help.
In the course of this episode I refer often to a PDF document which you can get for free over on my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/bradleylaird
Just scroll down to the post entitled: Basics of Harmony Singing. There you can download a PDF which is very helpful to have in hand while listening to this episode.
In addition to discussing the contents of that PDF I present various audio examples of standard bluegrass trio harmony, duets, high lead trios, and high baritone trios of some of the best in the business.
And, along the way, I present a challenge that you (and two of your bluegrass picking pals) listen to the episode, study the document, and send in a recording of your trio singing the ultra-simple "Boil Them Cabbage Down"! You will be rewarded handsomely if you prove to me that at least someone found this useful.
Have fun with the episode and folks, let's put a little more spit and polish into our vocal harmonies! It's worth it.
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 191
Host a Jam
Over the years I have been to lots of jam sessions and have organized and hosted quite few too. If you are starved for bluegrass pickin' I will explain how you "take the bull by the horns" and host your own jam session.
It can be a "one time only event" or it may turn into a regular, recurring session. Either way, it is a good way to get more bluegrass in your life and provide the same for other musicians.
In this episode I mention my "10 Jammandments Discussed" eBook. You can download it free here. (By the way, the final page in that eBook has a 25% discount coupon code for ANY of my instructional videos, courses and eBooks in my online store. Take advantage of that too!)
Enjoy the episode and I hope you have a jam session soon! Invite me!
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Friday Jun 18, 2021
Friday Jun 18, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 190
Matt Hutchinson Interview
Here's a guy who loves bluegrass. So much that he is willing to create a podcast so you have someone to pick with! What's not to love? In this episode I strike up a conversation with Matt to learn about his Bluegrass Jam Along podcast and find out how a guy in the UK became interested in bluegrass and to share what he is doing with all of you.
Enjoy the episode, check out his podcast and I'll talk to you soon.
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 189
Life Is Good
In this episode I talk about how you can dive in to your solo, play like dog squeeze, feel totally humiliated and still get a round of applause. It's one of the hidden benefits of playing live. (They aren't usually paying that much attention!)
Before I get to that, I talk about a big storm, the first post-pandemic session at Pat's Place, my "Brad's Barn Jam", and some other gobblety-gook that you might enjoy.
Enjoy the episode and talk to you soon. Better yet, I hope to pick with you soon!
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Saturday May 22, 2021
Saturday May 22, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 188
A Man's Entitled To His Opinion
200 episodes and over 100,000 downloads. Not bad!
This short episode is just to let you know I am still kicking. I have taken a little, well deserved break from the GTR Podcast and in this episode I fill you in a bit.
I have completed work on the F5 mandolin which I have been building and you can hear it in this episode. School's out, a light fixture in the kitchen tried to burn the house down, bluegrass has once again assured that I am officially below the poverty line, and life is good.
Enjoy the show and I'll talk to you in the next episode. I bet you can hardly wait!
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Friday Apr 30, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 187
Beach Balls & Train Wrecks
In this episode I talk a bit about the "Beach Ball Effect", I get interrupted by a friendly sales call, give you a short garden update, and then dig in to the topic of Train Wrecks and how they may be avoided. Have fun!
Talk to ya next week.
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Friday Apr 16, 2021
Friday Apr 16, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 186
Edumacation Are Fun!
In this show I respond to a couple of emails I received and discuss education and how we learn.
Have fun and I trust you take this "in the spirit in which it is intended."
In the episode I referenced this episode with the Self-Analysis Worksheet PDF:
http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-3-show-notes.html
And this blog post concerning self-directed learning:
http://www.bradleylaird.com/blog-articles/blog-36-guide.html
Talk to ya next week.
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Friday Apr 09, 2021
Friday Apr 09, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 185
Cancel This!
All I am saying is listen and make up your own minds. Cancel me if you must. Or, stick with me and the bluegrass way. Enough already!
I have heard so much sub-par bluegrass singing over the years--not from the pros like IIIrd Tyme Out and Doyle Lawson--but just in general. Some pretty lame singing is often the norm with bluegrass jams and SOME bands I have heard.
All I have to say is "tighten up" and take a hint from my closing outro music by Jackson, my son, and the Voices of the Valley Choir. The takeaway "pull quote" is at exactly 34:10. Shame on those who think otherwise.
I want to quote two verses in case you have trouble understanding the lyrics in the recording:
"We are pilgrims on the journey
We are travelers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load"
"I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh, I'll laugh with you
I will share you joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through."
See ya next week.
This podcast is dedicated to my friend Bob Putnam. I love you Bob. God be with you, my friend.
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
Nobody actually reads this stuff anyway so I am telling you that my cross-eyed sister once rode a bull moose across the Yukon Territory while playing a ukulele and singing My Old Kentucky Home. (Told ya! Nobody reads this crap!)
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 184
The Art of Quitting
I have spent much airtime here discussing the starting of things. Jams, bands, lessons, etc. But there comes a time in the natural curve of things that we must give it up and say "I quit!" When and how do you do this? And why?
I hope you enjoy this early morning sermon and I hope that when or if you are driven to quit that you do it in the best way possible. You may be doing everyone a favor! Yourself and others. Could be!
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.